Courier / Messenger
Salary

The average rate for a Courier / Messenger is $12.53 per hour. People in this job generally don't have more than 20 years' experience. Pay for this job rises steadily for more experienced workers, but goes down noticeably for employees with more than 20 years' experience.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

Job Description for Courier / Messenger

There are many occasions in which designs, contracts, and official/notarized documents must be physically transported from one nearby location to another. Couriers are employed either by companies that perform specialized information or document deliveries during the course of a regular business day; they may also be employed by a company that specializes in messenger services for other organizations.

Messengers and couriers must be organized, as they are usually tasked with delivering important items or documents from one business to another; in the case of multiple delivery stops, couriers must be certain they are delivering the proper items to each recipient. Upon delivery, most courier systems require the signature of someone receiving the items; these signatures must also be organized so that they correspond with the proper items delivered.

For businesses who use couriers or messengers, time is usually of the essence. For that reason, it is important that a courier has a good working knowledge of local roads, highways, and traffic patterns; many courier companies base compensation on efficiency and the number of deliveries performed.

A courier must generally have a driver’s license with a clean record and a vehicle in good working order. In urban areas where traffic is dense and parking is at a premium, some messenger services use bicycle couriers. In this case, rather than a driver’s license, a courier must be in fairly good athletic shape and have a well-maintained bicycle at his or her disposal.

Messenger and courier work may be part time, as the demand for this service can fluctuate. This position generally requires availability during regular business hours during the week.

Courier / Messenger Tasks

Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods.

Pick up and carry messages, documents, packages, and other items between offices or departments within a company or to other businesses, traveling by foot, bicycle, motorcycle or car.